It was getting quite close to the three nights we would perform the play in front of an audience, so rehearsals were getting a bit more serious.  When we weren't on the stage, Daniel and I had to run around in the background, putting up the nexts sets and changing some scenes.  I hadn't talked to him since Past The Point Of No Return, which I was fine with.  

Mack was always sitting in the fair back, just far enough that I would have to squint to see him, and therefore he knew I was looking at him.  He came during almost all of those rehearsals and watched us.  I oftened wondered why he stayed.  Did he have nothing else to do, no homework to work on?  Why didn't he ever go home right away after school?

Rose hunted me down after lunch and pulled me into an empty bathroom stall.  "Oh my God, Hadley!  Everyone's talking about how Mister Mack Alexander totally beat the crap out of Daniel Corey for you!"  She giggled like this was the happiest news a girl could ever receive.  I gawked at her.  

"He didn't beat him up.  They weren't fighting over me.  If anything Mack was trying to protect me."

"What?"

I explained to her everything that happened that afternoon and she listened intently, soaking up every juicy detail.  I couldn't imagine what rumors would be flying around the school now that I explained the truth.  The story would probably snowball into something much more dramatic.  

And it did.  

While I was changing into my costume for rehearsal, Lexie cornered me once everyone else had left.  "Poor, poor Hadley.  Too afraid to face Daniel Corey herself so she has Mack Alexander beat him up to leave her alone.  You're such a lowlife."

I grew angry.  Her relentless tormenting was unbearable.  "That is not what happened.  And it's none of your business.  I'm not dating either of them and I don't plan to.  My mind is on other things."

"What other things?"

"Again, that's not your concern.  I've got friends to look after and homework to do.  Parties and boyfriends have no place in my schedule.  I'm not intentionally seeking out Mack or Daniel.  They're looking for me."  I checked my phone once more for a text from Adam.  Nothing.  

Lexie laughed.  "That's so cute.  You think you have friends.  News flash: no one at this school likes you.  Daniel wouldn't ever want to talk to you if he wasn't forced to when he's acting and you're the only girl in this school that Mack hasn't made a move on yet.  So really, you're just a big nobody."

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it off like it was no big deal that she was calling me names and insulting me, but it hurt.  Though I could never let it show.  That would be the end of me.  Things were never like this at school for me in Blue Lake.  Why was everything so different here?

Why did everyone have to be so mean?

After the rehearsal, I got changed as quickly as I could and left before any of the other girls came out.  As I walked down the hallway, I felt tears burn my eyes.  Her comments had gotten to me.  Whenever I sang, she would turn to whoever was next to her, whisper and laugh, all while looking at me.  Even during Music Of The Night, when Daniel was suppose to hold me in his arms, he held so tight I could barely breathe.  I didn't know if she told him to do that, or if it was his own punishment for me.  

Mack caught up with me.  "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Mack, please, I don't have time to talk today." My voice broke and I walked faster.  

"Hadley-"

"Please just go away.  Don't follow me home anymore and don't watch me at rehearsals.  Please." I begged him.  He stopped walking, meanwhile I broke into a run.  

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After the voicemail's beep, I said, "Hi, Adam.  It's me.  It's a Wednesday, and you normally would have picked me up, but I, um...walked home.  I'm not angry; I just want to know where you are because I...I really need to talk to you.  I don't feel alright about the play anymore.  Are you in the cities?  With your band?  Please call back."

When I had finished the unsuccessful call, I went into the bathroom and began to wash the dye out of my hair.  I had bought a type of shampoo that would wash it out, and it soon did.  I liked my original hair color.  I couldn't remember why I changed it.  

Because of Adam.  And now he's gone again. 

I heard my phone start to ring in my room, and hurried to get it.  "Hello?" I said, sounding horribly desperate.  I prayed it was Adam.  

"Hadley?"

"Mack!  How did you get this number?" I demanded, immediately sitting up on my bed.  I was not in the mood for little games, even if this time he was sincerely being friendly.  Besides Rose, he was the only person I could possibly call a friend.  I thought for awhile that Daniel might be one, and then he had to go and prove me wrong.  

I could practically feel him smirking on the other end of the conversation.  "Your friend Rose gave it to me.  I thought she was going to faint with excitement at the sight of me."

Thinking of Adam, I said, "I'm really not in the mood to talk.  I told you to forget about me.  Find yourself another girl."  Suddenly, there was laughing in the background.  Lexie's voice became audible.  "Hadley, that's so cute.  Do pretend you don't love him."  I hung up immediately.  I bet they both were laughing hysterically.  Tossing my phone across the bed, I heard it ring a few times, but it was too late at night for Adam to call.  

Maybe it was just Rose that I could call a friend.

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During lunch the next day, I sat with Rose, but we were closer to Lexie's table than I hoped.  Mack was sitting there with her, which infuriated me.  I could hear her whispering something most likely horrible to the girls and few guys she was sitting with, and one of the guys laughed and hit Mack's shoulder playfully.  He didn't respond, but looked up at me, catching me watching.  

A few moments later, I heard him say, loud enough that most people could hear it, "Enough."  More than a few heads turned towards their table and towards Lexie's blushing face, Rose's and mine included.  For once, Lexie looked regretful of whatever she said to send Mack over the edge.  Some heads turned to me, which made me completely uncomfortable.  And then Mack made it worse.  

"She's the one who should be sitting here instead of you.  Hadley's nice, smart, pretty," Mack stopped pointing at me, and turned to Lexie before saying, "and real."  The cafeteria seemed to go silent.  I ran out as quick as I could, wishing I would never have to return.  

But in reality, I went to my next class after cowering in the bathroom for the rest of lunch.  

Mack nudged me as he walked past my seat during science.  I didn't even acknowledge him.  

Then Mr. Totz assigned us a new project with our partners, which certainly didn't make our day any better.  Also, he wasn't giving us much class time to work on it, therefore I would most likely have to work on it with him after school.  

Wonderful.  

That day's A Night On Broadway rehearsal didn't go any better.  Daniel actually missed one of his cues, which was completely unthinkable to him, and Lexie was obviously spreading rumors about me to the other girls in the play.  And Mack wasn't there after the rehearsal.  Or so I thought.  

Neither was Adam.  

He hadn't returned any of my calls or texts, even though I sounded as if I was going to lose my mind.  Where did he go?  Bridget knew as much as I did, which didn't help matters any.  

When I realized he wasn't coming, I felt tears spring up in my eyes again.  I felt childish, but after all that had happened that week, there was no denying that it wasn't worth a good cry.  And then everything seemed to get worse.  

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and hoping it was Adam, I shot up immediately from where I was sitting on the bench, only to run into Mr. Alexander.  I stepped around him, and began to walk home. 

"Hadley, please let me talk to you.  Lexie made me call you and I didn't know what she was going to do.  And now you're crying-"

"All of you are only a small part of why I'm crying.  I've got heavier things on my mind than to worry and fret about you.  My best friend keeps leaving without explanation, my second-cousin keeps trying to make me feel at home in this madhouse city and my real home feels so far away.  So, it would be incredibly wonderful if all of you just left me alone.  I have no interest in you or Daniel.  I just want to do this musical for my friend, and then continue on throughout the rest of this year on a low profile.  And if that bothers anyone, they're the ones who have a problem."  After my rant, I felt exhausted.  But before I turned and began to run home, I whispered, "I'm sorry."  

Once I arrived at Bridget's house, she obviously noticed that I had been crying, but I hurried up to my room and locked the door before she could get in.  After hitting the door several times, she gave up, saying I better come out soon because she was making pasta for dinner and that was my favorite.  And she wasn't going to wait for me.  

However, I didn't eat much that evening, and refused to answer any questions regarding my appearance as I came into the house that afternoon, even though Bridget threatened to ground me.  Though, she didn't.  

It was still light enough outside that when I went to bed I could see the painting on my wall, and the outline of our handprints.  I pulled my pillow over my head and hoped that sleep would take me soon.  

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Rose's POV

There was something odd about Hadley, something different.  

Sure, she was good-looking and smart, but she had this mysterious demeanor to her.  I kept thinking that she would eventually tell me this secret, but it never happened, which only made me more curious.  She was always talking about this friend, but never giving me a hint on who he was.  Her distance from Mack obviously clued me into thinking she was completely infatuated with him.  

I was jealous.  

Why did she get all of his attention?  I was always there beside her.  Was I simply invisible?

Hadley had what I had always wanted.  A life full of quiet mystery and beauty, from her older best friend to the parents she refused to talk about.  One of the deepest things I had gotten her to confess was her love for Owl City, which wasn't much.  

She was keeping a secret from me, and I was determinded to find out.